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Yucca gloriosa

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Yucca gloriosa
Apparently Secure
Apparently Secure  (NatureServe)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Asparagaceae
Subfamily: Agavoideae
Genus: Yucca
Species:
Y. gloriosa
Binomial name
Yucca gloriosa
Varieties[2]
  • Y. g. var. gloriosa
  • Y. g. var. tristis
Natural range
Synonyms[2][3][4]
List
    • Dracaena ensifolia
    • Yucca acuminata
    • Yucca acutifolia
    • Yucca angustifolia
    • Yucca boerhaavii
    • Yucca ellacombei
    • Yucca ensifolia
    • Yucca eylesii
    • Yucca falcata
    • Yucca flexilis
    • Yucca grandis
    • Yucca integerrima
    • Yucca japonica
    • Yucca longifolia
    • Yucca obliqua
    • Yucca patens
    • Yucca peacockii
    • Yucca pendula
    • Yucca plicata
    • Yucca plicatilis
    • Yucca pruinosa
    • Yucca recurva
    • Yucca recurvifolia
    • Yucca rufocincta
    • Yucca semicylindrica
    • Yucca stenophylla
    • Yucca superba
    • Yucca tortulata

Yucca gloriosa, also known as moundlily yucca or soft-tipped yucca, is a species of flowering plant in the asparagus family, native to the southeastern United States. Growing to 2.5 m (8 ft), it is an evergreen shrub. It is widely cultivated as an ornamental for its architectural qualities, and has reportedly become established in warmer climates in the wild in various parts of the world.

Description

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Yucca gloriosa is caulescent, usually with several stems arising from the base, the base thickening in adult specimens. The long narrow leaves are straight and very stiff, growing to 30–50 cm (12–20 in) long and 2–3.5 cm (3⁄4–1+1⁄2 in) wide. They are dark green with entire margins, smooth, rarely finely denticulate, acuminate, with a sharp brown terminal spine. The inflorescence is a panicle up to 2.5 m (8 ft) long, of bell-shaped white flowers, sometimes tinged purple or red. The fruit is a leathery, elongate berry up to 8 cm (3 in) long.[5][6][7][8][9]

Taxonomy

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Yucca gloriosa was first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753.[10] Genetic evidence has shown that the species originated via multiple hybridizations between Yucca aloifolia and Yucca filamentosa.[11] It is classified as part of the Yucca genus within the Asparagaceae family.[2]

The species has two accepted varieties:[2]

  • Yucca gloriosa var. gloriosa
  • Yucca gloriosa var. tristis Carrière

Yucca gloriosa has 85 synonyms of the species or one of its two varieties including 28 species.[2][3][4]

Table of Synonyms
Name Year Rank Synonym of: Notes
Dracaena ensifolia Haw. 1812 species var. tristis = het., nom. illeg.
Yucca acuminata Sweet 1827 species var. gloriosa = het.
Yucca acutifolia Truff. 1869 species var. gloriosa = het.
Yucca angustifolia Carrière 1859 species var. tristis = het., nom. illeg.
Yucca boerhaavii Baker 1870 species var. tristis = het.
Yucca ellacombei Baker 1872 species var. gloriosa = het.
Yucca ensifolia Groenland 1858 species var. gloriosa = het.
Yucca eylesii Baker 1880 species var. tristis = het.
Yucca falcata Anon. 1876 species var. tristis = het.
Yucca falcata var. semicylindrica (Baker) Baker 1880 variety var. tristis = het.
Yucca flexilis Carrière 1859 species var. tristis = het.
Yucca flexilis f. boerhaavii (Baker) Trel. 1902 form var. tristis = het.
Yucca flexilis f. ensifolia (Groenland) Voss 1895 form var. gloriosa = het.
Yucca flexilis var. ensifolia (Groenland) Baker 1880 variety var. gloriosa = het.
Yucca flexilis var. falcata (Anon.) Baker 1880 variety var. tristis = het.
Yucca flexilis f. hildrethii Trel. 1902 form var. tristis = het.
Yucca flexilis f. patens (André) Trel. 1902 form var. gloriosa = het.
Yucca flexilis f. peacockii (Baker) Trel. 1902 form var. tristis = het.
Yucca flexilis f. semicylindrica Trel. 1902 form var. tristis = het.
Yucca flexilis f. tortulata (Baker) Trel. 1902 form var. gloriosa = het.
Yucca gloriosa f. acuminata (Sweet) Voss 1895 form var. gloriosa = het.
Yucca gloriosa var. acuminata (Sweet) Carrière 1868 variety var. gloriosa = het.
Yucca gloriosa var. elegans Carrière 1880 variety var. tristis = het.
Yucca gloriosa var. ellacombei (Baker) Baker 1880 variety var. gloriosa = het.
Yucca gloriosa var. flexilis (Carrière) Trel. 1902 variety var. tristis = het.
Yucca gloriosa f. genuina Engelm. 1873 form Y. gloriosa ≡ hom., not validly publ.
Yucca gloriosa var. glaucescens Carrière 1860 variety var. gloriosa = het.
Yucca gloriosa var. longifolia Carrière 1862 variety var. gloriosa = het.
Yucca gloriosa f. longifolia (Carrière) Trel. 1902 form var. gloriosa = het.
Yucca gloriosa var. maculata Carrière 1859 variety var. gloriosa = het.
Yucca gloriosa f. maculata (Carrière) Trel. 1902 form var. gloriosa = het.
Yucca gloriosa var. marginata Carrière 1880 variety var. tristis = het.
Yucca gloriosa var. marginata-aurea Carrière 1880 variety var. tristis = het.
Yucca gloriosa var. mediopicta Carrière 1880 variety var. gloriosa = het.
Yucca gloriosa var. mediostriata Planch. 1880 variety var. gloriosa = het.
Yucca gloriosa f. mediostriata (Planch.) Trel. 1902 form var. gloriosa = het.
Yucca gloriosa var. minor Carrière 1860 variety var. gloriosa = het.
Yucca gloriosa f. minor (Carrière) Trel. 1902 form var. gloriosa = het.
Yucca gloriosa var. mollis Carrière 1860 variety var. tristis = het.
Yucca gloriosa var. nobilis Carrière 1860 variety var. gloriosa = het.
Yucca gloriosa f. nobilis (Carrière) Trel. 1902 form var. gloriosa = het.
Yucca gloriosa var. obliqua (Haw.) Baker 1870 variety var. gloriosa = het.
Yucca gloriosa f. obliqua (Haw.) Voss 1895 form var. gloriosa = het.
Yucca gloriosa subvar. parviflora Carrière 1860 subvariety var. gloriosa = het.
Yucca gloriosa f. pendula (Groenland) Schelle 1903 form var. tristis = het.
Yucca gloriosa var. planifolia Engelm. 1873 variety var. tristis = het.
Yucca gloriosa var. plicata Carrière 1860 variety var. gloriosa = het.
Yucca gloriosa var. pruinosa (Baker) Baker 1880 variety var. gloriosa = het.
Yucca gloriosa f. pruinosa (Baker) Voss 1895 form var. gloriosa = het.
Yucca gloriosa var. recurvata Baker 1870 variety var. gloriosa = het.
Yucca gloriosa var. recurvifolia (Salisb.) Engelm. 1873 variety var. tristis = het.
Yucca gloriosa var. robusta Carrière 1860 variety var. gloriosa = het.
Yucca gloriosa var. rufocincta (Haw.) Baker 1880 variety var. tristis = het.
Yucca gloriosa f. rufocincta (Haw.) Voss 1895 form var. tristis = het.
Yucca gloriosa var. superba Baker 1870 var. gloriosa variety = het.
Yucca gloriosa f. superba (Baker) Trel. 1902 form var. gloriosa = het.
Yucca gloriosa var. tortulata (Baker) Baker 1880 variety var. gloriosa = het.
Yucca gloriosa f. tortulata (Baker) Voss 1895 form var. gloriosa = het.
Yucca gloriosa var. variegata (Carrière) Carrière 1880 variety var. tristis = het.
Yucca grandis Sprenger 1904 species var. tristis = het.
Yucca integerrima Stokes 1812 species var. gloriosa = het.
Yucca japonica Carrière 1859 species var. tristis = het.
Yucca longifolia Carrière 1859 species var. tristis = het., nom. illeg.
Yucca obliqua Haw. 1812 species var. gloriosa = het.
Yucca patens André 1870 species var. gloriosa = het.
Yucca peacockii Baker 1880 species var. tristis = het.
Yucca pendula Groenland 1858 species var. tristis = het.
Yucca pendula var. aurea Carrière 1877 variety var. tristis = het.
Yucca pendula var. variegata Carrière 1875 variety var. tristis = het.
Yucca plicata (Carrière) K.Koch 1873 species var. gloriosa = het.
Yucca plicatilis K.Koch 1873 species var. gloriosa = het.
Yucca pruinosa Baker 1870 species var. gloriosa = het.
Yucca recurva Haw. 1812 species var. tristis = het.
Yucca recurvifolia Salisb. 1806 species var. tristis = het.
Yucca recurvifolia f. elegans (Carrière) Trel. 1902 form var. tristis = het.
Yucca recurvifolia f. marginata (Carrière) Trel. 1902 form var. tristis = het.
Yucca recurvifolia var. rufocincta (Haw.) Baker 1870 variety var. tristis = het.
Yucca recurvifolia f. rufocincta (Haw.) Trel. 1902 form var. tristis = het.
Yucca recurvifolia f. tristis (Carrière) Trel. 1902 form var. tristis ≡ hom.
Yucca recurvifolia f. variegata (Carrière) Trel. 1902 form var. tristis = het.
Yucca rufocincta Haw. 1819 species var. tristis = het.
Yucca semicylindrica Baker 1870 species var. tristis = het.
Yucca stenophylla Carrière 1859 species var. tristis = het.
Yucca superba Haw. 1819 species var. gloriosa = het., nom. illeg.
Yucca tortulata Baker 1870 species var. gloriosa = het.
Notes: ≡ homotypic synonym; = heterotypic synonym

Names

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The species is known by the common names moundlily yucca and soft-tipped yucca.[12] It is additionally known as Roman candle, candle yucca, palm lily, and Spanish needle;[13] however the first of these is also occasionally applied to Senna alata.[14]

Habitat

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Yucca gloriosa grows on exposed sand dunes along the coast and barrier islands of the lower East Coast of the United States, often together with Yucca aloifolia and a variety formerly called Yucca recurvifolia or Y. gloriosa var. recurvifolia, now Y. gloriosa var. tristis. Large, endemic populations can be found in the beach and dune environments of coastal North Carolina.[15] In contrast to Y. gloriosa var. tristis, the leaves of Y. gloriosa var. gloriosa are hard stiff, erect and narrower. On the other hand, Y. aloifolia has leaves with denticulate margins and a sharp-pointed, terminal spine.

Distribution

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Yucca gloriosa is native to the coast and barrier islands of southeastern North America, growing on sand dunes. It ranges from extreme southeastern Virginia south to northern Florida in the United States. It is associated with Yucca filamentosa, Yucca aloifolia, and Opuntia species.

Cultivation

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The plant is widely cultivated in warm temperate and subtropical climates, and valued as an architectural focal point. It has reportedly escaped from cultivation and naturalised in Italy, Turkey, Mauritius, Réunion, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, Argentina, Chile and Uruguay.[16] In landscape use, little maintenance is needed other than the removal of dead leaves when the shrub nears its ultimate height. The plant is very hardy, without leaf damage at −20 °C (−4 °F), and can handle brief snow and freezing temperatures, as well as long periods of drought.[17]

Yucca gloriosa,[18] and the cultivars 'Variegata'[19] and Bright Star = 'Walbristar'[20] have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[21]

Properties

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Yucca gloriosa has been known to cause skin irritation and even allergic reactions upon contact. The leaf points are even sharp enough to break the skin.[22]

References

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  1. ^ Clary, K.; Solano, E.; Ayala-Hernández, M.M.; Salywon, A.; Puente, R.; Hodgson, W. (2020). "Yucca gloriosa". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020 e.T117427984A117470062. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T117427984A117470062.en. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Yucca gloriosa L." Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
  3. ^ a b "Yucca gloriosa var. gloriosa". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
  4. ^ a b "Yucca gloriosa var. tristis Carrière". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
  5. ^ RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. p. 1136. ISBN 978-1-4053-3296-5.
  6. ^ Flora of North America v 26 p 429
  7. ^ Linnaeus, Carl von. 1753. Species Plantarum 1: 319.
  8. ^ Wunderlin, R. P. 1998. Guide to the Vascular Plants of Florida i–x, 1–806. University Press of Florida, Gainesville.
  9. ^ Radford, A. E., H. E. Ahles & C. R. Bell. 1968. Manual of the Vascular Flora of the Carolinas i–lxi, 1–1183. University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill.
  10. ^ "Yucca gloriosa L." International Plant Names Index (IPNI). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Harvard University Herbaria & Libraries; Australian National Botanic Gardens. Retrieved 2023-10-05.
  11. ^ Heyduk, Karolina; McAssey, Edward V.; Grimwood, Jane; Shu, Shengqiang; Schmutz, Jeremy; McKain, Michael R. & Leebens-Mack, Jim (2021), "Hybridization History and Repetitive Element Content in the Genome of a Homoploid Hybrid, Yucca gloriosa (Asparagaceae)", Frontiers in Plant Science, 11 573767, Bibcode:2021FrPS...1173767H, doi:10.3389/fpls.2020.573767, PMC 7843428, PMID 33519836
  12. ^ Irish, Mary; Irish, Gary (2000). Agaves, Yuccas, and Related Plants: A Gardener's Guide. Portland, Oregon: Timber Press. p. 254. ISBN 978-0-88192-442-8. OCLC 41966994. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
  13. ^ Timber Press (2003). Barnard, Loretta; Doggett, Dannielle; Doig, Fiona; Etherington, Kate (eds.). Flora's Plant Names. Portland, Oregon: Timber Press. pp. 66, 192, 223. ISBN 978-0-88192-605-7. OCLC 52948957.
  14. ^ Skerrett, Adrian; Skerrett, Judith (1991). The Beautiful Plants of Seychelles. Nairobi, Kenya: Camerapix Publishers International. pp. 66, 192, 223. ISBN 978-1-874041-05-4. OCLC 31901071. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
  15. ^ World Checklist of Selected Plant Families, The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, retrieved 2012-02-23, search for "Yucca recurvifolia"
  16. ^ Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families, Yucca gloriosa
  17. ^ "cals.arizona.edu". Archived from the original on 7 September 2004. Retrieved 1 March 2007.
  18. ^ "RHS Plant Selector - Yucca gloriosa". RHS. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  19. ^ "RHS Plant Selector - Yucca gloriosa 'Variegata'". RHS. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  20. ^ "Bright Star = 'Walbristar'". RHS. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  21. ^ "AGM Plants - Ornamental" (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 108. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
  22. ^ "hgic.clemson.edu". Archived from the original on 3 March 2007. Retrieved 1 March 2007.
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